Today in Class:

Wednesday, August 27th Day 5

Questions for the Day: Based on your classmates' presentations, how would you define hardball? What is the essay challenging you to do? What are the characteristics of good historical writing? What's the role of a political convention in the process of electing a president?

Leave No Shot Unanswered? Read more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/26/AR2008082603920.html?hpid=topnews

external image art.clinton.afp.gi.jpg

The November Elections: Spotlight on Denver

• CNN: Elections 101: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/path.presidency/
• NPR Interactive Election Map: http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008-election-map.html#/president-nprOvM/
• Louisiana Elections: http://www.nola.com/elections/
• CNN: Conventions 101: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/20/explainer.conventions/index.html
• Anatomy of a Convention: http://www.demconvention.com/anatomy-of-a-convention
• Convention Schedule: http://www.demconvention.com/schedule
• Delegate Map: http://www.demconvention.com/delegates2008/
• Delegate Voting: http://www.demconvention.com/delegate-voting
• NPR Convention Coverage: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93739553

Tuesday, August 26th Day 4

Questions for the Day: According to Matthews, what are the rules of the game? How is the game of hardball played?



Washington Post, "McCain and Leno Joke About His Age," (8-26-08): http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/25/mccain_and_jay_leno_joke_about.html


Presentations: You can find your classmates wiki pages by clicking on the links to the left. You will need to use these pages (and the presentations!) when you prepare to write your essay. Pay particular attention to the current examples.

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Monday, August 25th Day 3

Questions for the Day: What big announcement did Barack Obama make this weekend? What's happening in Denver this week? What are the attributes of a GREAT presentation?



In Denver,

• Democratic National Convention Official Site: http://www.demconvention.com/
• NY Times Coverage of the Convention: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/index.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1219670541-UE xNHkpLJd8gbR2iyHY1g
• Washington Post Coverage of the Convention: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/politics/?hpid=topnews
• CNN Coverage of the Convention: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/conventions/

In the Polls

• RealPolitics Latest Polls: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/latestpolls/index.html
• For the numbers, click here: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

Friday, August 22nd Day 2

Questions for the Day: Who is Chris Matthews? Why did he write this book? Who is his primary audience? What is Hardball? How can you apply the lessons in Hardball to the current presidential election?


Applying Hardball Lessons to the Current Election: The McCain Housing Flap

• Listen to the original interview here: http://share.ovi.com/media/thepolitico.public/thepolitico.10064

• Read the New York Times article, "Obama Counts McCain's Houses: The Latest Political Flap" (August 21, 2008): http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/obama-counts-mccains-houses/?scp=1&sq=McCain%27s%20homes&st=cse

• Listen to NPR story on John McCain's homes and Obama's response. NPR, "McCain, Obama Make Housing Issue Personal" (August 22, 2008)

• Watch Obama's campaign ad. What Hardball lessons is he using? What advice would you give to John McCain on how to respond? You can also view the video on Obama's campaign web site here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/seven

• Watch McCain's response ad. What lessons is he using? Which ad is the most effective?

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How engaged are you? Take this quiz and find out. Make sure you take a careful look at the results.





Overview of Hardball assignment.